Best Vintage Store 2022 | Fourth Place | Best of Denver® | Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Denver | Westword
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Miah Richards grew up poking around garage sales and Goodwill stores and selling finds on eBay, but some of his treasures were too good to give up; they began to overtake his living spaces. Ultimately, though, that resulted in more for you and me. Richards opened Fourth Place, a labor of love in the Golden Triangle, then stocked it with prime finds, including a stunning collection of vintage T-shirts, letter jackets, jean jackets and other streetwear. The personable Richards will talk vintage with customers all day if allowed, turning store visits into low-fashion costume parties.

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To Hell & Back and the Rummage Rats form a collective of two vintage and modern collectors on the second floor of ReCreative Denver, a vendor of recycled art materials. In addition to repairing old jeans and the like, the two businesses invite a few of their fellow vintage-pluckers to set up pop-ups under the Hell and Rats umbrella during First Fridays in the Art District on Santa Fe; this past winter, you could also find them at the Baker Bazaar, a recurring pop-up market at the L cocktail bar on Broadway.

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Her decades-long passion for collecting vintage linens, china, silver, glass and textiles led Kathy Gomez to share her enthusiasm with others through Chickadee Vintage — but not before a lifetime of training in the art of interior decoration that started with growing up in her mother's house. Vintage collecting was an obvious extension of that upbringing, and so is Chickadee, an online shop where Gomez offers a wealth of linens from secondhand designer collections, from IKEA to Ralph Lauren, as well as other household treasures.

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Chelsea and Michelle Mowrey, the mother-and-daughter team that runs Kitschy Witch, are clearly stuck in an anachronistic paradise of their own making, selling vintage finds from a wayback era — the 1940s. Back then, homes were adorned with pottery animal figurines and coconut-husk hula dancers as part of their daily decor, and holidays — a specialty at Kitschy Witch — meant spooky Halloween ephemera, tinseled trees with beaded ornaments, rosy-cheeked Santas, fuzzy Easter chicks and corny Valentines. Visit Kitschy Witch in downtown Englewood or catch its Instagram page every Sunday at 4 p.m. for live sales via the internet.

instagram.com/kitschywitchvintage

Although Antiques Row is disappearing from South Broadway, help is at hand. If you're on the hunt for furniture, a unique gift, fun things for your home or a display piece for your office, head to the magical place called Garage Antiques. This spot offers an overwhelming array of everything from dressers and coffee tables to vintage kitchen utensils and clothing from over twenty antique dealers. Slavica Slepcevic has been selling reclaimed and restored antiques from this spot since 2010; hop across the street to her other store, Garage Vintage, and you'll find the most beautiful, affordable retro '50s, '60s and '70s pieces. And be sure to say hi to Baby, the Australian Bare-Eyed cockatoo that will greet you at the entrance!

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When you walk inside Ebisu Japanese Lifestyle Store, you'll be greeted by life-sized statues of anime characters, and you're likely to hear a slowed-down, emotional cover of a chart-topping pop song. But the unique decor and tunes aren't the main reason to head to Ebisu. This is the best spot in the area to get your Japanese beauty fix, since it stocks everything from makeup to hair dye to serums that will remove the oil from your bangs; you'll also find such basics as toilet paper and toothpaste, as well as a few aisles dedicated to irresistible snacks. The store's right across the parking lot from the H Mart, a Korean-American chain, in case you're inspired to shop for more Asian products.

instagram.com/ebisu_colorado

With a following of over 100,000 on Instagram and over 20,000 on TikTok, 79-year-old retired psychiatric nurse Judith Boyd, aka The Style Crone, pushes the boundaries of the traditional fashion "influencer." And she doesn't just have you looking good; she also does good, by using her platform to elevate social justice issues such as climate change, fast fashion, ageism, human rights and animal-rights issues. Follow her to see some seriously beautiful outfits, hats and cool Denver locations that could inspire you to take equitable action.

stylecrone.com

Denver City Tattoo Club is almost a museum for historic flash from legendary tattoo artists. This is where iconic tattooer Kim Schaefer works, and it's run by Nicholas Pew, a walking encyclopedia on tattoo history in Denver and beyond. Everyone who works here is as friendly as they are talented, with a high level of knowledge about their craft. Although the shop has other offerings, this is where to get a traditional tattoo, particularly one steeped in history.

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Courtesy Sol Tribe Custom Tattoo and Body Piercing Facebook page

If you've spotted people around town with piercings in unique patterns with gorgeous jewelry, chances are good they were done by Sol Tribe Tattoo and Piercing's Casey Dilla Hosch (see for yourself on Instagram @casey.hosch.piercing). Under the mentorship of the late Alicia Cardenas, Dilla Hosch became one of those artists for whom you're willing to wait to get an appointment. In the wake of the tragedy that took the lives of Cardenas and her friend and colleague team member Alyssa Gunn Maldonado, Dilla Hosch has carried those lessons forward, stepping fully into the leadership role at this beloved shop. With Dilla Hosch at the helm, the incredible team of Sol Tribe artists continue to create a sacred, inclusive and intersectional space for the people they pierce and tattoo.

Dana Novara is a veterinarian who cares deeply about the animals and the humans she serves, and she and her team have created a veterinary clinic unlike any we've seen before. From an underwater treadmill (check Urban Paw's Instagram for pics of dogs in mermaid life jackets) to rehab on Bosu balls to temperature-controlled glass kennels, your pet will be treated to care that many humans only hope for. Novara has a strong commitment to community, works to achieve more sustainable practices in an industry that creates a lot of waste, and visits classrooms around Colorado, inspiring future veterinarians and animal advocates alike.

urbanpawvet.com

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